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Tree commission weighs using $5,600 this fiscal year for ash-borer treatment versus buying trees
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a June 1 budget report showing $15,622.71 ending balance with $10,000 earmarked, leaving about $5,622.71 available; they debated spending it on an estimated $4,900 emerald ash borer treatment now or purchasing trees/placing a deposit to avoid returning unspent funds.
The New Castle Tree Advisory Commission spent much of its June 1 meeting weighing near-term budget choices: apply remaining fiscal-year funds toward emerald ash borer treatment or use them now to buy trees and services rather than returning unspent money to the city.
S2, who identified themself as the commission’s budget lead, reported a beginning balance of $26,627.80, expenses of $11,005.09 and an ending balance of $15,622.71. S2 said $10,000 of that is already earmarked for tree removals on West 6th Street, leaving roughly $5,622.71 available ahead of the fiscal-year cutoff at the end of June.
Commissioners discussed an estimated cost for emerald ash borer injections of about $4,900. "When we approved it, we said to prefer to start as soon as possible," S2 said about an approved ash-treatment contract, and members noted the treatment window opens as leaves emerge and runs through the summer. If the treatment proceeds this month, the commissioners calculated the remaining balance would fall to about $1,302 before accounting for security costs.
Given the fiscal timing, members explored alternatives to returning the available funds: placing a deposit with the nursery Gateway to reserve stock, buying available trees in the greenhouse garden for fall planting, or using funds for brick/tree-pit work. "I hate to give that money back when it could be buying trees," S2 said. S5 confirmed some nursery stock exists but noted many greenhouse trees are small or not on the commission’s approved list.
The commission agreed to follow up with Bartlett (the contracted tree company) to schedule ash borer treatments and to ask Gateway about deposits and in-stock trees. Chair Edward Ryan said he would include these inquiries in the commission’s follow-up report to city staff and would ask Antonina, the city administrator, about the commission’s FY27 allocation and whether the beautification committee line item can be split out.
